I hope your week has been blessed and the weekend even more so! Before we spotlight today's author and book, I'd like to take a moment to just say "THANK YOU" to Everyone who visits, comments and/or shares my blog. I TRULY Appreciate you ALL more than words can say!!
Now....our guest today, Linda Nightingale is no stranger to our blog. She shared with us some treasures in February, thoughts in March and we spotlighted another of her books in April.
Today Linda shares with us her novel, Gambler's Choice.
Becca McQuaid came to England to find the
perfect horse but instead met a darkly mysterious challenge in Austen Heath,
Baron of Hampton. She’s determined to buy Austen’s stallion Gambler’s Choice.
He’s determined not to sell, but the rivals are thrown together by an accident
that leaves Austen with a broken leg and the threat he’ll never ride again.
Austen Heath has the title, heritage and manor house…but not the fortune. Becca is wealthy. Her charms are irresistible, but he believes she’s shopping for a Ladyship to go with her money. He has another reason to hold the sexy blonde at arms’ length—the unexplained disappearance of an old friend everyone thinks was his lover. When her body is discovered on his property, he becomes a suspect in her murder.
Excerpt:
In a blood-stained white
robe, Austen drove a knife down on a chopping board. What was he chopping in
the middle of the night? Blood leaked from what appeared to be a heart.
Sickness rolled in her stomach. Dane sat at his feet, watching his
master. A noose of fear tightened around Becca’s neck. Did the heart he diced
for the dog belong to the missing Julia? Her stomach flipped. Get a
grip, Becca. Your imagination is running away with you. Her phobia
didn’t listen. A chill slithered down her spine. She backed away from the door,
collided with a table. The mastiff lurched to his feet, barking. Becca froze,
unable to tear her gaze from the bloody knife.
Agonizingly slow, Austen
turned on one crutch, knife in hand, the gory blade raised. “Stay, Dane. Ah,
Becca. Come in. There’s something I’ve been meaning to show you.”
A shudder ploughed
through Becca. Her voice shook. “What is that?”
“A beef heart. What did
you think? Ah…” he whispered a laugh. “You thought I was dicing Julia’s heart
to feed to the dog.” Gripping the knife, he paced her retreat. “I do believe
you’re afraid of me.”
The belt slipped, and
Austen’s robe parted to his waist. The man’s body would tempt a nun. She
retreated. He advanced.
“I couldn’t sleep. That
happens quite often. I decided to prepare Dane a special treat.” He tossed his
hair out of his eyes, the cruel smile and the condescending tone returning.
“Ah, Becca, Becca, you’re thinking I killed Julia because she was pregnant.”
“Yes. No. Put away the
knife, please. I can’t think.” She labored for breath.
Austen flung the knife
clattering to the floor. The startled dog leapt back. Trembling, Becca stood
her ground. She’d chewed the inside of her jaw raw.
“There, Becca,” he
snarled. “You can come in now.”
Blood smeared the
polished oak floor and the horrible knife. Her stomach ached, and bile stung
her throat. She forced herself to look at anything but the stained blade.
Austen halted, leaned
against a wall. “I appreciate your confidence and trust. A month of living
together has taught you nothing about me.”
Dane disobeyed the
command to sit, returned to lick his master’s fingers.
“There, there, son.”
Austen glanced at the dog. “I’ll soon finish your treat. First, I must convince
Becca that I am not a murderer.”
Oh My Word! What an
excerpt!
Born in South Carolina, Linda Nightingale has
lived in England, Canada, Miami, Atlanta and Houston. She’s seen a lot of
this country from the windshield of a truck pulling a horse trailer, having
bred, trained and showed Andalusian horses for thirteen years.Linda has won several writing awards, including the Georgia Romance Writers Magnolia Award. As well as an author, she is a legal assistant and a mother of two incredible sons, one in England; the other a graphic artist in Houston. She is a member of the Houston Symphony League and enjoys events with her car club. Two of her favorite things are her snazzy black convertible and her parlor grand piano.
She is the author of three novels published by Double Dragon Publishing, a Canadian publisher. Gemini Rising, winner of the Preditors’ and Editors 2013 Poll in Mainstream, is a controversial dark fantasy, getting good reviews. Sinners’ Opera and Cardinal Desires are paranormal romances starring sexy vampires. The following is a snippet of a review for Sinners’ Opera: “Morgan and Isabeau are characters that could be placed in the same category as some of the most famous couples in romance history - Romeo and his Juliet, Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy - and their romance plays out like one of Beethoven's famous love letters.”
Visit her web site at http://www.lindanightingale.com (site designed by Simon Nightingale) for a continuing vampire story. Catch her on Twitter at @LNightingale. She is on Facebook, or visit her blog http://lindanightingale.wordpress.com/
Under the pen name Bianca Swan, she writes erotic romance. The Wild Rose Press published two novellas. Double Dragon Publishing released one Bianca novel.
Sounds like another book to add to my wish lists.
Hope you enjoyed today's spotlight and you'll continue to visit weekly for Tuesday Treasures, Thursday Thoughts and of course more Saturday Spotlights.
Until next time...take care and God Bless.
PamT
